Article attachment and mounting device

ABSTRACT

An attachment or fastening device of the type used to secure tags to garments comprises an integral thermoplastic body having a cross bar at one end and a flat head portion at the other connected by a filament. The filament is provided with an axially extending slot defining a channel or loop extending transversely therethrough and adapted to receive a hook or the like. The slot is substantially spaced from the cross bar and the filament is provided with a reduced cross section along the portion extending from the cross bar. The cross bar may be bent over onto the reduced cross-sectional portion of the filament for insertion through the garment. The device serves the dual purposes of fastening the tag to the garment and providing a loop by which the garment and tag may be hung on a hook or the like for display.

hlnited States Patent Merser Aug. 29, 1972 [54] ARTICLE ATTACHMENT AND Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin MOUNTING DEVICE Att0meyJames and Franklin [72] Inventor: Francis G. Merser, Framingham Center, Mass. ABSTRACT 7 Assignee; Dennison M f t i Company, An attachment or fastening device of the type used to Framingham, Mass secure tags to garments comprises an integral thermoplastic body having a cross bar at one end and a [22] March 1971 fiat head portion at the other connected by a filament. [21] Appl. No.: 121,298 The filament is provided with an axially extending slot defining a channel or loop extending transversely 52 US. (:1. ..24/73 PF 24/150 F? 40/21 R therethmugh and adapted receive 9 51 Int. Cl. ..A44b 21/00 like- The 8119 Substantially Spaced from the bar 58 Field of Search ..40/21 R; 24/150 PF, 16 PB, and the filament is Provided with a reduced cross 24/73 PF, 3 5 p tion along the portion extending from the cross bar. The cross bar may be bent over onto the reduced [56] References Cited cross-sectional portion of the filament for insertion through the garment. The device serves the dual pur- UNITED STATES PATENTS poses of fastening the tag to the garment and provid- 267,486 11/1882 Brooks ..40/21 R ing a l p by which the garment and tag may be hung 546,578 9/1895 Brown ..24/73 CS UX on a hook or the like for display. 3,088,702 5/1963 Orenick et a1 ..24/16 PB X 3,444,597 5/1969 Bone ..24/150 FP 15 Clams, 7 Drawmg gums FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 381,603 10/1964 Switzerland ..24/16 PB PATENTEU MIG 29 m2 INVENTOR Fexwc/s c M52553 ATTORNEY ARTICLE ATTACHMENT'AND MOUNTING DEVICE The present invention relates to fastening devices and particularly to such devices designed for use in attaching tags to various articles such as garments.

In the merchandising of articles both at the wholesale and retail levels it is usually necessary to identify such articles by price, size, manufacturer, etc. by the application of an identifying label or tag to the merchandise. The method of securing such identifying means, particularly to garments, must be designed for attachment and detachment by unskilled personnel with relative ease and speed, must reliably secure the identifying tag or label to the article and at the same time must leave the article free from damage after the tag or label is removed by the consumer. In addition such devices must be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

An attachment device which has been found suitable in this regard, particularly for use with articles of fabric such as garments, is known as a bar lock attachment device and is described in Kirk U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,122 issued Apr. 30, 1968 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As there disclosed the device consists of a molded thermoplastic body having an elongated filament, a cross bar at one end and a head portion at the other end. Devices of this type are inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use and reliable for maintaining attachment between a tag or other identifying device and an article of fabric. In practice the devices are molded in groups, the individual devices being integrally connected to and strung along a rod at their cross bar ends by means of thermoplastic necks. The devices may be rapidly applied to effectively attach tags to fabrics by means of an automatic attaching apparatus which is effective to automatically feed tag attachments and insert them by means of a hollow axially slotted needle and plunger assembly successively through the tag and fabric.

Apparatus of this type is disclosed in Bone U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,666 issued Sept. 17, 1963 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. As there disclosed the apparatus provides means for feeding an assembly of attachments such that the cross bars of adjacent attachments are brought successively into register with the base of the hollow needle. The thus positioned attachment is then severed from the assembly at its neck portion and a plunger is effective to drive its cross bar through the needle with the filament projecting laterally through the slot. If the needle has been previously inserted through the tag and fabric, the cross bar likewise is inserted therethrough, the thin filament being bent over onto the trailing portion of the cross bar as it passes through the tag and fabric. The needle is removed and the cross bar and head portion are thereafter effective to maintain both the tag and the fabric threaded on the filament.

It will be apparent that in order to avoid damage to the fabric, as by making a sizable hole therein, the filament adjacent the cross bar must be extremely thin and flexible so as to readily bend onto the trailing portion of the cross bar with no appreciable increase in effective cross section as these elements move through the fabric. The filament however must still be strong enough to resist breaking, both during this attaching operation and subsequently.

As described in the previously mentioned Kirk patent, because of the limitations of the molding process, after molding the filaments are subsequently stretched. This stretching is efiective to reduce the cross section of the filament beyond the mold limit and in addition in known manner increases the tensile strength thereof. The filaments are initially molded with an increased cross section adjacent the head portion so that stretching may be stopped before it reaches the head portion to avoid the danger of breaking. This operation may sometimes be imprecise, primarily as a result of imperfections along the length of the filament including variations in molded cross section. Thus the initial stretching may occur at a point substantially removed from the cross bar and progress toward the head portion. In such a case too little stretching will be ineffective to reduce the cross section of the filament adjacent the cross bar, and too much stretching may result in breaking of the filament. As a result the stretching apparatus in some instances may not be sufficiently sensitive to produce uniform stretching of a plurality of filaments along a substantial portion of the length of each filament. The stretching operation is necessarily limited to a level sufficient to avoid breaking any of the filaments and thus in some instances a substantial number of filaments may not be stretched sufficiently to provide the portion adjacent the cross bar with the reduced cross section and increased strength required for successful fastening.

Garments and other fabrics tagged in the manner described are generally hung on a display rack or rod for inspection by the purchaser. In the case of wearing apparel such as blouses, shirts or slacks, the garment is usually hung on a conventional wire hanger or the like, although other hanging means may be suitable. Other fabric articles such as scarves, handkerchiefs, ties, etc. require an additional attachment device if, as is desirable, they are to be displayed in a hanging position. In either case the garments must be each attached on or to a separate additional hanging member for display purposes, a procedure which involves considerable additional expense in the form of labor and equipment. Moreover, such hanging devices are unsatisfactory in at least two respects. First, as in the case of conventional hangers, the hanging device may easily become detached from the garments particularly after substantial handling by the customer. As a result the garments may wind up on the floor of the establishment and the hanging devices may be lost or misplaced. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the garments are usually hung in a manner such that it may be difficult for the customer to find the usual tag attachment on which is printed the price, size, etc. Even when the garments are carefully hung in identical orientations and the price tags have been carefully positioned at identical locations on the garment, rearrangement and ruffling due to customer handling may result in concealment of the tag attachment.

It is a primary object of the present invention to design an improved attachment device of the type described which effectively eliminates all the foregoing difficulties.

It is another object of the present invention to design a tag attachment device of the locking cross bar type which is provided with means to hang or mount the article and associated tag on a hook means or other mounting device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tag attachment device of the bar lock type which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and has improved reliability with respect to its ability to be inserted through a garment without severing of the filament and/or damage to the garment.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a simple but inexpensive attachment device adapted to effectively serve the dual functions of securing a tag or other identifying means to a fabric and mounting said fabric and tag combination in a convenient and effective display orientation.

To these ends the present invention comprises an attachment device of the bar lock type having an elongated filament with a cross bar at one end and a disclike head portion at its other end. The filament is provided with an elongated slot extending along the central portion of the filament and terminating at either end substantially spaced from the cross bar and head portions, respectively. The slot forms a channelled loop extending parallel to the cross bar and head portion, said loop being adapted to be spread and placed in hanging relation on a hook member or other mounting means. Accordingly, the garment with its associated tag attachment may be easily mounted on a rack, peg board or the like in convenient display position, preferably with the tag on the opposite side of the hook from the garment.

The devices may be conveniently integrally molded of thermoplastic material in depending relation from a thermoplastic assembly rod and thus adapted for use with existing automatic attachment apparatus. The slotted portion of the filament is spaced from the cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance the cross bar extends out transversely from the filament. The filament portion extending between the cross bar and the slot is effectively stretched during fabrication to increase the strength and reduce the cross section thereof. A bulbous portion adjacent the cross bar end of the slot is effective to cause stretching of the filament to occur first at the portion of its length nearest the cross bar. As a result a dimensionally reliable article is formed which is adapted to be easily inserted through the fabric without damage to the fabric or breaking of the filament.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention comprises an attachment device as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the attachment device of the present invention in its operative position securing a tag to a fabric and mounting same on a hook member;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an assembly of devices made in accordance with the present invention, only two such devices being shown;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment device of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4A-4A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4B-6B of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device showing the slotted filament in the spread position.

The tag attachment device of the present invention is best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As there shown the device comprises an elongated filament generally designated 10, a cross bar 12 at one end thereof and a head portion 14 at the other end thereof. Cross bar 12 is illustrated as a relatively thin cylinder connected at its midpoint to filament 10 and extending generally laterally to the long dimension thereof to form with the filament 10 a generally T configuration. The cross bar 12 is shown in FIG. 3 as having a circular cross section but various other shapes may be suitable. In operation, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, the cross bar 12 is inserted through the fabric or other article to be tagged along its axial direction, the fabric being threaded onto the filament adjacent the cross bar, the cross bar thereafter serving to retain the fabric on the filament 10. Accordingly, cross bar 12 must have a sufficient maximum length-towidth ratio to effectively prevent the tagged fabric from slipping off the filament. In addition, cross bar 12 must have a sufficiently small effective cross section to allow it to be threaded through the fabric without producing a sizable or noticeable hole therein.

Head portion 14 serves to retain the tag threaded on the filament 1b and is preferably in the form of a flat rectangular disc, although here again a variety of shapes may be suitable for this purpose. Typically the tag 32 is provided with an aperture 33 of standard size. In operation the tag 32 is positioned adjacent the fabric 34 at a suitable location thereon and cross bar 12 is inserted through the tag aperture 33 and the fabric 34, the filament It} and cross bar 12 being bent over onto each other as they pass through the fabric 34. This operation is ordinarily accomplished by means of an automatic tag attachment apparatus utilizing a hollow slotted needle which is effective to pierce the fabric 34 prior to the insertion of cross bar 12 therethrough. Cross bar 12 is aligned with the hollow needle at its base and a plunger is effective to force cross bar 12 along the interior of the needle through the fabric 34, filament l0 projecting transversely through the needle slot. As the filament it reaches the fabric 34 it is bent over onto the trailing end of cross bar 12 and is threaded through the fabric together with cross bar 12. Once the trailing end of cross bar 12 passes through the fabric 34 the cross bar again assumes its transverse T configuration relative to the filament 10 and the tag 32 is effectively secured to the fabric 34.

Referring now to FIG. 3 filament 10 is provided with an axially extending slot 16 terminating substantially short of cross bar 12 at one end and head portion 14 at its other end. The resulting filament portions 17 define a channel or loop extending through filament 10 in a direction substantially parallel to the long dimension of cross bar 12. The filament it), near the upper end of the slot 16, has a bulbous portion designated 20. A portion of reduced cross section 22 extends between bulbous portion 20 and cross bar 12 and is preferably of sufficient length to accommodate that portion of cross bar 12 which is bent over during insertion through the fabric. Bulbous portion 2% is provided with transversely extending grooves or cutouts 24 in its outer surface approximately aligned with the end of slot 16, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter. A stem portion 26 having a cross section slightly larger than that of bulbous portion 20, serves to connect filament portions 17 with head portion 14.

The devices are preferably integrally molded of a thermoplastic material such as nylon in a manner described in considerable detail in the aforementioned Kirk U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,122. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a plurality of devices are integrally molded together in a group or assembly strung along a rod 28 by means of necks 30. Because of the limitations of the molding process with regard to minimum cross section of the filaments, the filaments are preferably stretched after molding in a manner described in the aforementioned Kirk patent. It has been found that the slotted filament here disclosed may be subjected to a substantial uniform stretching operation without breaking or other damage. The reasons for improved stretchability of the present structure over that disclosed in the aforementioned Kirk patent are not fully understood. However, it is believed that at least two factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, any imperfections in either of the two filament portions 17 which might otherwise result in breaking or other damage during stretching will tend to be taken up or compensated for by the other filament portion. Second, if, as is preferably the case, the effective cross-sectional area of filament portion 22 immediately after molding is less than the combined effective cross-sectional areas of filament portions 17, portion 22 will be stretched first to its elastic limit after which the remainder of the stretching will be confined to the slotted portion of the filament. Thus, even if as again is preferable to avoid breakage, the entire filament is not stretched to its elastic limit, portion 22 will always be fully stretched to its minimum diameter, thereby minimizing the aperture produced in the fabric through which the filament is passed. The stretching operation not only reduces the cross-sectional area of the filament beyond the molding limit but also, by reorienting the molecules of the thermoplastic material, increases the tensile strength of the filament.

In a typical embodiment the stretched filament extends approximately 2 inches in length, the cross bar 12 is approximately 13/32 inch in length and 0.045 inch in diameter, filament portion 22 is approximately three-sixteenths inch in length and 0.040 X 0.030 inches in cross section (see FIG. 4A), and filament portions 17 are each approximately 1% inch in length and 0.020 X 0.037 inches in cross section (see FIG. 4B). Disc 14 must be large enough to retain the tag on the filament and is typically if: inch X 3/16 inch in area.

The manner of use and functioning of the attachment device described herein will now be apparent. The assembly of FIG. 5 is inserted into an automatic tag attachment mechanism of the type described in the aforementioned Bone patent and the cross bars 12 are successively aligned with the hollow needle at its base. The needle is then inserted through the aperture 33 in the tag 32 and pierces the fabric 34 to be tagged. As the mechanism is actuated the thus positioned attachment device is severed from the assembly at its neck portion 30 and the cross bar is forced through the needle and consequently through the tag 32 and fabric 34 by a plunger, the filament 10 projecting laterally outwardly through the axially extending slot in the needle. As the cross bar 12 moves past the fabric 34 the filament 10 is pulled inwardly toward the needle, portion 22 being bent substantially onto the trailing portion of the cross bar 12. It will be apparent that the size of the hole produced in the fabric depends not only on the size of the needle but also on the effective cross-sectional area of the filament portion 22 and its flexibility. As the cross bar leaves the needle it springs back to the T configuration with relation to filament 10. The needle is removed from the fabric 34 and the tag 32 is effectively attached thereto.

FIG. 1 shows the attachment device of the present invention in operation. As there shown the device carries a tag 32 adjacent its head portion 14 and is threaded through a garment or other fabric article-34 adjacent its cross bar 12. Filament portions 17 are spread apart to form a loop, which loop is disposed over a hook member 36. A series of hook members 36 may be mounted on a rod to provide a display rack for a plurality of such garments 34. As shown the tag 32 is preferably disposed on the opposite side of hook member 36 from fabric 34. For this purpose the tag aperture 33 is made sufficiently large to be easily slid along the entire filament 10 to the desired position. The mounting configuration shown in FIG. 1 is convenient and attractive and maintains the tag 32 in full view at all times.

In order to facilitate handling it is important that filament portions 17 be easily spreadable to form the desired loop for mounting. As best shown in FIG. 5 grooves 24 are designed to provide easy spreadability of filament portions 17. In effect they serve as pivotal joints connecting bulbous portion 20 with filament portions 17. It will be noted that the two filament portions immediately adjacent grooves 24 at 38 are provided with a slightly larger cross section for increased rigidity at these points to aid in spreading.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that I have designed an improved attachment device particularly suitable for use in attaching a tag to a fabric article of the type normally displayed by hanging. The loop type attachment device disclosed herein combines the functions of tag attachment and display mounting means in a single device which is easy to use and may be inexpensively produced. When, as preferred, it is integrally molded of thermoplastic material, the device is strong and durable and particularly reliable in both its attachment and mounting functions.

Not only does the slotted filament herein disclosed add considerable versatility to the device, but also the filament construction has been found to provide improved stretchability after molding thereby to provide a device of added strength and dimensional reliability.

Finally the device is designed for use with existing automatic tag attachment mechanisms thereby to enhance its commercial feasibility.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention is herein specifically described, it will be appreciated that many variations may be made therein, all within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An attaching and mounting device for attaching two articles together and mounting them on a hook means, comprising an integral thermoplastic body having a filament, a head portion on one end of said filament and a cross bar on the other end of said filament, said cross bar extending substantially transverse thereto, said filament having a slot formed therein extending through and longitudinally along said filament and terminating at either end substantially spaced from said head portion and said cross bar, respectively, said slot defining a channel adapted to receive said hook means.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to said cross bar.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said head portion comprises a part having a width substantially greater than the width of said filament and wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to the width of said part.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of said slot.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angles along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said head portion comprises a part having a width substantially greater than the width of said fiiament and wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to the width of said part.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of said slot.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equalto the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angies along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of 2. he device of claim 11, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angles along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said fiiament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means. 

1. An attaching and mounting device for attaching two articles together and mounting them on a hook means, comprising an integral thermoplastic body having a filament, a head portion on one end of said filament and a cross bar on the other end of said filament, said cross bar extending substantially transverse thereto, said filament having a slot formed therein extending through and longitudinally along said filament and terminating at either end substantially spaced from said head portion and said cross bar, respectively, said slot defining a channel adapted to receive said hook means.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to said cross bar.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said head portion comprises a part having a width substantially greater than the width of said filament and wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to the width of said part.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of said slot.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angles along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said head portion comprises a part having a width substantially greater than the width of said filament and wherein said slot extends through said filament in a direction substantially parallel to the width of said pArt.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of said slot.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angles along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said filament is provided with a portion of reduced cross section extending from said cross bar and terminating short of said slot.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said portion of reduced cross section of said filament extends from said cross bar a distance at least equal to the distance said cross bar extends transversely outwardly from said filament whereby said cross bar may be bent over at right angles along said portion of reduced cross section of said filament.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein said slot defines two filament portions and wherein said filament is provided with a bulbous portion adjacent one end of said slot, said bulbous portion having grooves on the outer surface thereof extending substantially transversely to the axes of said filament, said grooves serving to facilitate the spreading apart of said two filament portions for receiving said hook means. 